Phil Dirt - Reverb Central - PO Box 1609, Felton, CA 95018-1609 USA Wes Dakus and the Rebels - The Wes Dakus Album With The Rebels
 | This is a stereo version of the original issue of Wes Dakus and the Rebels only album. It's all instro in the Canadian mold, with heavy influences from Memphis. |
Picks: So Fine, Hobo, Twine Time, Rattlesnake, Rolling Rock, Honeybun, Come On Down, Roulette, 20-75, Night Walk, Fried Rice, Do-Wah-Diddy-Diddy
Track by Track Review
Rock (Instrumental)
This is almost a vocal, with the chorus sung. Beyond that, there's great harmonica and a Memphis jam backtrack. Johnny Otis wrote "So Fine," and it was a hit for The Fiestas.
Rock (Instrumental)
Stu Mitchell's "Hobo" is the image of simplicity, bordering on minimal. Slightly soulful, with tremolo in full swing, and great drums!
Rock (Instrumental)
Hmmm - this is an interesting treatment of Alvin Cash and the Crawlers' "Twine Time." Much moodier, almost jungle, and the stereo reverb gives if a dangerous haunted edge. Very cool!
Rock (Instrumental)
This band composition uses a playful riff that depends entirely on the bass line for its life. I'll go as far as to say that without the bass line there's no song, just a jam. It's truly the bass and drums that make this worth while.
Rock (Instrumental)
Tinkling piano and Memphis style guitar riffs guide this riff rocker through its paces. "Rolling Rock" doesn't really hold attention for long, though it's very similar to so many b-side instros of its day.
Honeybun Rock (Instrumental)
"Honeybun" is a modest little number with little more than a cute melody hook. Again rooted in the Memphis sound.
Rock (Instrumental)
"Come On Down" is a moderately paced jammin' bluesy number that's recorded live, or perhaps the live crowd stuff is added in mastering to give it that "Hole In the Wall" sound.
Rock (Instrumental)
Well now, "Roulette" turns out to be quite an intriguing track. It owes a lot to Latin jazz, particularly Ray Barreto. Moody and strangely mixed, the tinkly piano charm and infectious rhythm make this quite attractive.
Rock (Instrumental)
Willie Mitchell's catchy "20-75" is a natural selection to cover, given Wes Dakus and the Rebels' general sound drift at this point in their career.
Rock (Instrumental)
With a sound that employs the go-go period of the Ventures, "Night Walk" is bouncy and funky. The Ventures' did the original.
Rock (Instrumental)
"Fried Rice" is another track in the Memphis stable of Wes Dakus and the Rebels songs. Great drums and infectious rhythm, it's the sort of track that the R&B stations used to use for bumpers going into the legal ID.
Rock (Instrumental)
This instrumental treatment of Manfred Mann's "Do-Wah-Diddy-Diddy," like "So Fine," employs a vocal chorus. The organ is very cheesy.